Kaohsiung Must See Spots
Dragon and Tiger Pagodas
If you Google Kaohsiung, one of the first images that comes up is the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. Although these pagodas seem new they were made in 1976, making them almost 50 years old! Located on Lotus Lake, the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are available for the public to go through after renovations in spring of 2025. The dragon and the tiger are two symbolic animals that embody yin and yang. The dragon means strength and authority, and the tiger means bravery and protection from evil.
Even though we didn’t know at the time, it is important to go in through the dragon and out through the tiger. According to locals it turns bad luck into good fortune. Both pagodas are seven stories tall and have staircases reaching almost to the top. There are two intertwining sets of stairs going up the pagodas as Michael and I realized, as we lost each other on the stairs. At the top of the pagoda, I was able to see a view of the other pagodas nearby. I really didn’t want to go up the stairs, but the view was worth it. The detailing on the buildings exterior and interior are very intricate, and it’s better to see from higher up.
Spring and Autumn Pavilions
Across from the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are the Spring and Autumn Pavilions. These were built in the 1950s, so are slightly older than the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. The pagodas here are smaller, but what was really interesting to me was the beautiful bridge. Going quite far into the lake, there is a stunning pavilion with a lovely 360 degree view. The sun was barely over the horizon as we enjoyed the last moments of light from the peaceful viewing deck. This was definitely one of the most picturesque places we visited in Kaohsiung. Although the lake is a little out of the way, It was definitely worth the visit as this is one of the main areas of the city.
Weiwuying Park and Art Village
One of the largest attractions in Kaohsiung is the new Weiwuying Park. Since ancient times, the area has been one of most important military bases on the island. Through Chinese, Japanese, and independent rule, this land had been private military base. In the 90s, the military no longer had a use for the land. The long process of turning it into an ecological preserve went underway, and in 2010 the park opened. Weiwuying Park is massive, with plenty of walking paths, playgrounds, ponds and benches. The largest building is the incredibly designed National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, just outside the subway. This is one of the most important buildings in the city, and is often a tourist site on it’s own.
In the former barracks now resides Weiwuying Art Village, an art collective that allows artists to rent studio space. Kaohsiung is known as an art city, with several districts dedicated to street art and sculpture. So, it’s not surprising to see a studio space like this in the most important park. There is a small opening time where you are allowed to view the studios to see the artist’s work, but unfortunately we were not there while they were open. Regardless, the park is still a lovely green space and absolutely worth visiting if you’re in the area.
WeiWu Mi Mi Village
Since we weren’t able to visit the studios at Weiwuying Art Village, we crossed the street from the park to see WeiWu Mi Mi Village. It is also confusingly called Weiwuying Street Art Village, which made it hard to find on Google. This neighborhood filled with local and international artists is located in a residential area in the Lingya District. This is Taiwan’s first street art village, which feels like an outdoor art museum. You can get there by going to Weiwuying station and exiting at gate 5.
Since it is a residential area, it is important to be respectful and quiet. The apartment buildings are very tall with a large variety of illustrations at every corner. The bright colors of the residential buildings reminded me of the Choi Hung Estates in Hong Kong, because of the atmosphere of the area. Weiwu Mi Mi Village feels so lively, with everyday apartment blocks exploding to life. We’ve been to many art streets before, but this one easily takes the cake. I’ve never seen so many murals with such variation, and all over every street. The further into the neighborhood we went, the more impressive it became, and I’m super glad we were able to find our way here.
Dome of Light
The nearest subway near our stay was Formosa Boulevard Station, conveniently where the Dome of Light is located. The Dome of Light is one of the world’s largest glass art installations. We went to floor B1 near exit 1 and 4 to get to the dome, but thankfully you don’t need a ticket to see it. As we were walking through the station, it was amazing to see this colorful artwork from different angles. There are also lightshows accompanied by music that we would love to see the next time we visit. This is one of the busiest stations, so we took pictures early on the weekend morning to guarantee we had it to ourselves.
The dome tells the story of human life through four themes: water, earth, light, and fire, representing creation, growth, spirit, and renewal. It shares a message of love and tolerance while honoring the heroes who brought about political change and civil freedom. It was a beautiful stop to see, and very easy to see as this station connects to major the subway lines.
Sunfong Temple
Sunfong Temple is an Instagram famous temple draped with red lanterns all over. This temple dates back to 1600s, and since then has moved and been rebuilt in 1971. Sunfong Temple is dedicated to the Taoist deity, Nezha. This temple is actively used by people coming to pray, so be respectful as you walk around. We specifically visited at night to see the bright glow of the temple from the lanterns. Being one of Kaohsiung’s must see spots, I was really excited to see the lanterns from the upper level.
Sadly, during the period we arrived the second floor was under renovations, so we couldn’t see the famous view overlooking the lanterns. We were still able to walk around and see the hundreds of lanterns right above our heads. That being said, the temple is quite small, and without seeing it from above we were a bit let down.
Night Markets
Ruifeng Night Market
Kaohsiung has a variety of night markets and we were curious if they differed from the ones we’ve visited in Taipei. Our first night market we visited was Ruifeng Night Market, which is one of largest and busiest night markets in southern Taiwan. Many young people visit this night market as it’s near high schools and universities. Ruifeng Night Market is open every night except Monday and Wednesday. It was already late when we arrived, but the stalls were still opening up when we left. Taiwan has a huge night life culture, but I am not a night owl so I wasn’t able to stay up and see the crowds.
Ruifeng Night Market has food, clothes, games, and more, offering a diverse range of things to eat and do. Since it was our first night market of the night, we wanted to start slow and get some bubble tea and dessert. We didn’t get to try a lot of food in Taipei, so I was persistent and had a big list of must-eats in Kaohsiung, which we wrote an entire food guide about. I really liked the organization of the night market. Everything was in rows, making it easy to find where we were going and not get lost.
Liuhe Night Market
Liuhe Market one of the cities oldest markets, located on Liuhe 2nd Road near Formosa Boulevard. This area is a popular spot for tourists. The market is open every night, and luckily our hotel was on the same street as the market. As soon as we stepped out of the hotel doors, the night market was right in front of us. Earlier in the day the street was empty and quiet. It was a complete shock how the street went from being normal and empty, to full of people and energy.
Liuhe Market is pedestrian friendly as the road is blocked off to traffic. The street is rather wide, making it easy to walk through. Leisurely from end to end takes about 20 minutes. We were on a mission to find the iconic papaya milk, a sausage with a rice bun, and more. I preferred this market because of the location, and it was a bit smaller making it easier to look at all the options.
Final Thoughts
I’m so glad we got to see some of the must see spots in Kaohsiung. I had never heard of this city before, but it turned out to be an incredible trip. Getting away from the popular cities and tourist destinations often leads us to the most interesting places.
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